Xiluodu Dam facts for kids

The Xiluodu Dam is a huge dam in China. It is built on the mighty Yangtze River, close to a town called Xiluohu in Yunnan Province. This dam is one of the biggest in the whole world! Building it started in 2005, and it began making electricity in 2013.

Xiluodu Dam: A Giant Powerhouse

The Xiluodu Dam is a special kind of dam called a hydroelectric dam. This means it uses the power of flowing water to create electricity. It is an amazing example of engineering.

What is the Xiluodu Dam?

The Xiluodu Dam is a massive concrete structure. It holds back a huge amount of water from the Yangtze River. This water then flows through giant turbines, which are like big spinning wheels. As the turbines spin, they power generators that make electricity. The dam is incredibly tall, standing at about 285 meters (935 feet) high. That's taller than many skyscrapers! It can produce a lot of electricity, enough to power millions of homes.

Building a Giant: How Long Did It Take?

Building a dam as big as Xiluodu takes a lot of time and effort. Work on the Xiluodu Dam started in 2005. Thousands of workers and many machines were needed to build such a huge structure. After eight years of hard work, the dam was ready. It began operating and producing electricity in 2013. This was a big achievement for China.

Why Are Dams Important?

Dams like Xiluodu are very important for several reasons.

• They help control floods by holding back excess water during heavy rains.
• They store water for drinking and for farming.
• Most importantly, they create clean energy called hydroelectricity. This type of energy does not burn fossil fuels, which helps keep our air cleaner and reduces pollution.